The state government may bring in force a legal framework wherein doctors would prescribe generic medicines.

Vadodara, Aug 17 : Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has said the state government would bring a legal framework under which generic medicines will be prescribed by doctors, thereby making health care facilities affordable.

The CM was in the city to inaugurate a 130-bedded multi super speciality hospital near Genda Circle area on Wednesday.

"With treatment and medicines getting costlier, it is desirable that doctors should recommend cheaper medicines. The state government will bring a legal framework under which doctors will have to prescribe generic medicines, which are cheaper than equivalent branded drugs, to patients," Rupani said.

He said the step would be taken after Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a programme in Surat in April, had indicated that the state government may bring in force a legal framework wherein doctors would prescribe generic medicines.

On the occasion, Rupani said there are plans to have private medical colleges in tribal-dominated Tapi, Dahod, Panchmahal, Banaskantha, Bharuch, Narmada and Amreli by upgrading the government hospitals in these districts on public-private-partnership (PPP) model.

Nearly 1,000 generic medical stores would be opened by the end of 2017 across the state, he said, adding that there are already such 250 stores that are selling medicines up to 70 per cent cheaper than the branded ones. CORR ARS